Electronic vs. Optical Implementations of Neural Networks*

This paper will address for the optical community the relative advantages and limitations of electronic neural network implementations in contrast to optical implementations. Its intent is by no means to be adversarial. It is hardly necessary to say that today electronics has an edge over optics in this field. The aim of the paper will be to help indicate the areas where electronic and optical implementations can each make their most important contributions and the areas in which advances in technology, particularly in optical technology, will be required.